Sunny Day Real Estate: How It Feels to Be Something On (1998)

When Sunny Day got back together and recorded a new record in 1998, one of the dreams of this young man was realized. How cool that it was a really great record at that. As Nate Mendel opted to continue Foo’ing around, the band is only at 75%, but they did manage to find a worthy match for Mendel’s bass chops in hired-hand Jeff Palmer. As far as bookends go, the band continues to show a mastery for beginning and ending records, with the fabulous and dark “Pillars” setting the mood for the whole record and the blue-eyed mysticism of “Days Were Golden” closing things out. Although a few of the songs seem unworthy of the initials SDRE (“Two Promises”, “The Shark’s Own Private F*ck”), the band continues to churn out emotionally-strident rock and roll with just enough experimental flourish to keep the indie set coming back. “Every Shining Time You Arrive” and “Guitar and Video Games” are particularly strong highlights, but “Roses in Water” and “The Prophet” deliver an eastern flavor that folds in well with the band’s sound.

Tracks:

1. Pillars (5/5)

2. Roses in Water (4/5)

3. Every Shining Time You Arrive (5/5)

4. Two Promises (2/5)

5. 100 Million (3/5)

6. How It Feels To Be Something On (4/5)

7. The Prophet (4/5)

8. Guitar and Video Games (5/5)

9. The Shark’s Own Private Fuck (2/5)

10. Days Were Golden (5/5)

Sunny Day Real Estate
How It Feels to Be Something On; 1998
Sub Pop Records

My Rating: 8/10

When Sunny Day got back together and recorded a new record in 1998, one of the dreams of this young man was realized. How cool that it was a really great record at that. As Nate Mendel opted to continue Foo’ing around, the band is only at 75%, but they did manage to find a worthy match for Mendel’s bass chops in hired-hand Jeff Palmer. As far as bookends go, the band continues to show a mastery for beginning and ending records, with the fabulous and dark “Pillars” setting the mood for the whole record and the blue-eyed mysticism of “Days Were Golden” closing things out. Although a few of the songs seem unworthy of the initials SDRE (“Two Promises”, “The Shark’s Own Private F*ck”), the band continues to churn out emotionally-strident rock and roll with just enough experimental flourish to keep the indie set coming back. “Every Shining Time You Arrive” and “Guitar and Video Games” are particularly strong highlights, and “Roses in Water” and “The Prophet” deliver an eastern flavor that folds in well with the band’s sound.

Tracks:

1. Pillars (5/5)
2. Roses in Water (4/5)
3. Every Shining Time You Arrive (5/5)
4. Two Promises (2/5)
5. 100 Million (3/5)
6. How It Feels To Be Something On (4/5)
7. The Prophet (4/5)
8. Guitar and Video Games (5/5)
9. The Shark’s Own Private F*ck (2/5)
10. Days Were Golden (5/5)

About

SGB is a music review blog. I keep it short and to the point. I mostly cover rock, usually of the indie, classic, or punk variety. All readers are encouraged to respond to my reviews with approval, dissent, etc. You think I missed something about a record? Speak ya mind!

Initial Reactions (2012) Ratings System

A: Impressive. Among the year's best.B: Decent. May be a grower.C: Blah. Another brick in the wall.D: Offends, grates, and/or bores.F: Monumentally bad. Imagine if Justin Beiber fronted Creed.